Queen Margaret was about to knock on a door then paused and listened. She heard some whispered words and giggles. Then the voice of Lady Mary, "Hold still. I'm doing the eyebrows now."
Margaret opened the door suddenly. Three comical painted faces turned to her. She glanced at the table. It seemed the girls started on a water paint project and were now painting each other.
Keeping her voice stern, Margaret told them, "I came to inform you that that latest merchant from India is displaying his shipment. But if you would rather stay up here…"
In a flurry, the girls started to clean up the messy room.
Lady Carla turned to her Queen. "I truly tried to stop them, Your Highness. "
Her companion threw a paintbrush at her.
Margaret said, "Yes, I am sure you tried very hard. Clean this room and wash your faces and you can come down and act like the ladies I expect you to be."
Walking down the hallway, the Queen smiled. Lady Juanita and Lady Carla were the newest and youngest of her ladies and were constantly into mischief. Practical jokes on the other ladies, daring each other to do wild stunts, sneaking in literature Margaret disapproved of, they needed constant supervision.
But they had proven themselves a Godsend with Lady Mary. They eagerly included her in everything they did, with no jealousy that Lady Mary was a niece of their Queen and was once a princess. Mary had grown up in the company of much older ladies. She never had playmates her own age. She had confided to Margaret even at Hatfield she was shunned by the other girls.
Mary was thriving in the safety of the Lisbon court. Her eyes were not so bitter and she smiled readily now. Late at night she still cried for her mother and father, but during the day she was kept busy with duties, studies and whatever Juanita and Carla were planning. Margaret hoped the damage done to her by Henry was healing.
The main display room had been closed for a day but was now opened for the court. Everybody was there to view a dazzling display of exotic items. What drew the eyes first was the table heaped high with tiger skins with elephant ivory on the floor.
Silks of every color spilled off tables and chairs. Robes, shawls, slippers. Perfumed oils and incense filled the air. Peacock fans, beads of gold and colored gems, handfuls of cut glass and crystal beads displayed throughout the room. Exotic animal figurines of green and black jade, ivory, rosewood and sandalwood added to the atmosphere.
At the back, under heavy guard, was the displays of gems and jewelry. The display featured green jade, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, garnet and tourmaline.
Several people crowded around the tiger skins. "Have you seen a tiger?"
The merchant Alvarez replied. "Yes, but not close for I would not survive. Tigers are large and very aggressive, very powerful beasts."
At a signal, one of his men stepped forward with a tiger skin and fit it over the merchant, who went down on all fours. A few seconds of adjusting and the man stepped back.
A low rumbling growl came from the tiger and his head swung to the side, surveying the audience. The merchant was a burly man and he filled out the tiger skin. There was some nervous laughter.
The tiger started to advance on a slow stalk, emitting low chuffing growls. Some of the ladies backed away.
With a roar, the tiger reared on his hind legs and was suddenly the merchant, graciously accepting applause.
The crown prince called in excitement. "I want two. One for my chambers and one for my wife."
His wife shook her head. "No, my lord. He is a beautiful beast, even dead. For a gift I would like some of these to be made into dresses." Standing among the bolts of silk she laid her hands on an orange selection and one of pale green. With her delicate dark beauty, the colors would look stunning.
Margaret picked out some jade jewelry and a peacock fan. King Manuel stepped forward. "A personal gift to my lovely wife. To match the color of her eyes."
It was a ruby ring. Her eyes were blue!
But she was used to her husband's tricks. She smiled back sweetly. "Thank you, my lord. You flatter me."
King Manuel put his hands on his skinny hips. "Is there more.?"
The merchant smiled in triumph. "I have saved your gift for last, Your Majesty. "
Walking over to a chest, Alvarez opened it and withdrew several teapots that he spread out in a display. When Margaret had arrived, she had seen these oddly whimsical pots among the nobility.
King Manuel had developed a passion for Indian and Chinese teas. He said wine often made him feel ill. It had caught on at the court of Lisbon, for the hot tea was quite refreshing.
The teapots were of beautiful white and black porcelains, hand painted with flowers and fanciful art.
"Well done. And the tea?"
The merchant handed over a very ornate canister. "And I have several more canisters than this one. This tea is the very best from the province of Darjeeling."
"You have done well. After we select what goes in our Treasury, this will open to the nobility to buy what they wish. But a member of our family has yet to make a decision on what to get."
Margaret saw all eyes turn to Lady Mary who looked startled. The girl stepped forward shyly and walked along the treasures. She was clearly not expecting to pick out a gift. No, she did not want perfumed oils or incense. Nor silk purchases or beautiful jewelry to set her apart from the other ladies.
Going forward to the figurines, Lady Mary saw what she wanted. A dragon made of ivory. Head thrown back in a roar, he clutched a tiger and an elephant in each clawed hand. Only eight inches long, he was a beautiful work of art. The dragon was wearing a gold collar and had gemstones along his sides.
Even the tiger and elephant had little gemstone eyes, ruby for the tiger and sapphire for the elephant.
"This one! Please!"
Alvarez smiled and nodded in approval. "A beautiful dragon."
Mary smiled a big happy smile. "I would love to see one someday."
The merchant, "Alas, my lady, despite popular stories no one today has seen a living dragon. But in China several times bones of large creatures had been found that match no other creature on earth. They could only be dragons long ago that were once alive."
Mary said, "But I'll still keep this one."
"I have seen elephants". The merchant grabbed two small ivory tusks and put them near his mouth. He stood on his tiptoes and swayed, giving the impression of huge size. Then he threw one arm straight in the air and trumpeted
The court applauded as he bowed with quiet pride. Margaret knew for the payment of this shipment he did not mind acting the joker. He seemed rather proud of his animal impressions.
Everyone spent the afternoon admiring the display and the evening feast held for the merchant and his crew to celebrate a safe and profitable return. Lady Mary sat at the Royal table listening to the merchant Alvarez, also seated at the Royal table as guest of honor.
"Are you planning any trips to the New World? "enquired King Manuel.
"No, I am getting too old. The places I know are still profitable, still fascinating. I am planning a trip to China. Maybe find some dragon bones."
King Manuel nodded. "Then you will be looking for more tea."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Lady Mary spoke up. "Queen Margaret, may I be excused. Lady Carla wanted to see me."
Lady Mary turned to Alvarez. "I thank you for my dragon."
"I am pleased I had a gift you like so much." As she left, Alvarez said "She is so charming."
King Manuel said, "Indeed she is. Actually, we are planning to travel this summer. We have not told her yet but she has Spanish grandparents very anxious to meet her."
Queen Margaret said. "They were ready to set sail here as soon as she arrived last summer. But we wanted to give her time to settle in here."
Mary at night headed to bed carefully putting her new dragon beside her.
Drifting off to sleep she heard Lady Juanita and Lady Carla whispering. No doubt planning something for tomorrow. She did not realize in her sleepiness that since she came to Lisbon she no longer dreaded the next day.